The Miami Heat were willing to part with Duncan Robinson last offseason for a reason, and the Pistons are learning what that reason was. Detroit brought in the Michigan native, thinking he'd be a reliable scorer for the team in the playoffs, but he's been shaky.
Robinson averaged 12.2 points on 45.6% shooting from the field and 41% from three in 77 games (all starts) for Detroit in the regular season. Through the Pistons' first four playoff games, he's averaging 9.0 points on 33.3% shooting from the field and 37% from deep.
Since 2024, he's been a non-factor in the postseason. Last year, he averaged 4.3 points on 33.3% shooting from three in only 14.8 minutes across four games.
He had only seven points on 1-of-6 shooting from three in 29 minutes in Detroit's 94-88 Game 4 loss against Orlando on Monday. Robinson posted a team-worst -18. J.B. Bickerstaff took the guard out of the game in the fourth quarter with nine minutes left, and he didn't return until there were only 24 seconds left, and the Pistons needed someone (anyone?) to score. He took one three and missed.
To make matters worse, the Magic were hunting him on defense, something that Heat fans saw happen plenty of times when he was in Miami.
Duncan Robinson's playoff struggles from Miami carried over to Detroit
The Pistons couldn't get anything going down the stretch offensively in Game 4, with Cade Cunningham not hitting a single shot in the fourth quarter. There wasn't much Robinson could do, as he spent most of that quarter watching from the sideline. As fed up as fans were with him, they also were calling for Bickerstaff to put him back in.
His gravity helps open up the floor for Cunningham, one of the reasons Detroit signed him. More than anything, the Pistons needed him to deliver in the playoffs. They're still waiting, but maybe he will have his moment in Game 5, with their season hanging in the balance.
Robinson can catch fire easily and help Detroit fans forget about Games 1-4. That would help boost his case to stay with the team past one season, as only $2 million of his $15.9 million salary next season is guaranteed. The Pistons structured his contract the way they did for a reason.
Miami fans don't have a horse in this year's playoffs, but still, it'd be nice to see Robinson get it together.
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